Overview of Dental Implants
Dental implants are surgically placed in your jaw bone while
under anesthesia. It is a very time consuming procedure when having many implants placed.
As this procedure is surgical, it is very important to research and find a well credited
cosmetic dentist that you are comfortable with. For some people there are varying degrees
discomfort or pain, which subsides in a couple of days. As with similar types of surgery,
bruising and minor swelling might also develop shortly after the procedure.
How are Dental Implants Attached in
Your Mouth?
The procedure for traditional
implants and mini dental implants involve two surgeries. One to place
the implant and one to uncover it after a healing period of about six
months to expose the implant and attach the crown. There is a new
procedure for placing dental implants known as immediate load implants.
This procedure offers only one surgery for the placement of the implant
and immediate placement of the crown. Not every implant dentist offers
this procedure, so it's best to bring it up in your first consultation
to see if it's offered and if you're a candidate for immediate load
dental implants.
The dental implant procedure is a surgical placement of the
implant or implants in your jaw bone which requires a three to six month healing period
before the implant restoration to replace the missing tooth or teeth. During this healing
time, the bone grows in and around the titanium implant creating a very strong support.
Dental implants can be rejected. Usually they are replaced with another implant of a
slightly larger size. The rejection or "failure" rate is minimal, only 1 to 2%
of all implant procedures. You must go without wearing your dentures for one day to two
weeks after an implant placement. After the implant has "taken" and you have
sufficiently healed, a very natural crown is placed on the implant.
When missing one tooth, your implant
dentist may use a Flipper to fill the space until it is time for the
crown to be attached to the dental implant. A Flipper is a false tooth
to temporarily take the place of a missing tooth before the permanent
crown is placed on the implant. A Flipper can be attached via either a
wire or a plastic piece that fits in the roof of your mouth. Flippers
are meant to be a temporary solution while awaiting the permanent crown
to be placed on your dental implants.
If you're missing one tooth or all of your teeth,
implants may well be for you. So long as you have enough bone in the area of the missing
tooth to facilitate the anchorage of the implants, this procedure can yield terrific
results. If you don't have enough bone for this purpose, a bone graft may be necessary. A
procedure of building up the bone is known as Bone Grafting. Bone grafting is common with
dental implants. The bone that is used is one of three types. The preferred bone to use is
taken from other areas of your mouth or collected in a suction device as the drilling of
the sites for dental implants occurs. Sometimes bone is taken from areas such as a hip
(this requires an orthopedic surgeon and an operating room). The third source for needed
bone is a synthetic type. This is the least preferred type of bone to be used for this
procedure.
After you've made the decision to
have a dental implant supported denture, your dentist will take X-rays
and create impressions of your teeth. A computed tomography (CT) scan of
your mouth to determine the exact position of your sinuses and nerves is
common. This will also show that enough bone is available serve as a
guide for the ideal locations for the dental implants. From the
impressions of your teeth and gums your dentist will make a temporary
denture.
The dental implant procedure involves two surgeries. The first will be
to place the actual dental implant and the second will be to expose the
top of the implant. After the first surgery the implant itself will be
below your gum and not exposed. There are "immediate load" implants that
comprise of only one surgery where the implant is placed and the
supporting bar is placed in one step. This is becoming more common and
has a high rate of success.
For the first surgery an incision is made in your gum where the implant
will be placed. A hole is then drilled in your jawbone and the implant
is placed into the hole. The incision in your gum is then stitched
closed. After three to five weeks you can wear your temporary denture.
Your dentist will give the denture what is called a "soft reline" which
is to provide a new lining next to your gums. Over the next four to five
months the implant will attach and fuse (osseointegration) to your bone and the second
surgery will be scheduled.
Once your dentist confirms that the implant is well fused in the bone,
the second surgery will be to uncover the tops of the implants. A collar
called a healing abutment will be placed on top of each implant head.
The collar promotes proper gum growth and will be worn for about two
weeks. at this time your temporary denture may need another adjustment
because of the abutments. About two weeks after the surgery you'll have
the healing abutment removed and the crown will be placed.
Next: Different
types of implants
- Introduction to dental implants
section
- Dental implants - an overview
- Who is a candidate for dental implants?
- Dental implants - Procedure description
- Types of tooth implants
- How much do dental implants cost?
- Things to consider - Advantages and disadvantages of dental
implants
- Dental implants - Before and after photos
- Personal stories from people who have had dental
implants
- Choosing the color of the dental implant crown
- Discuss dental implants on our message board
  
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